The Culinary Chronicles of Mrs Beeton!

Photo of Isabella – circa 1854

​Hello, darlings!

In 1861, during the reign of our sovereign - Queen Victoria (curtsey please!), Mrs Isabella Beeton’s most treasured creation – Beeton’s Book of Household Management was first published. And as nature intended, she flourished into the worlds-greatest teacher of all things ‘domestic and culinary’.

In fact, Mrs Beeton’s been hailed as ‘the grandmother of the modern-day domestic goddess’ – but frankly my dears, I beg to differ! As clearly, due to her untimely farewell via the Pearly Gates, the honourable title of ‘godmother’ is a far more suitable fit – Concur?  ​

​Nevertheless, as my most favoured mentor, and wizard of all things household management; I wholeheartedly appreciate Mrs Beeton’s most welcome counsel when fulfilling my duties as the mistress, housekeeper, or cook of the Miss Windsor household - I do indeed, wear many hats!
 
So, darlings, let’s dash off to memory lane, where together we’ll embrace the brilliance of this ‘avant-garde’, and highly acclaimed woman of Victorian society – How spiffing! 
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Isabella Mary Mayson was born at 24 Milk Street, Cripplegate, Cheapside, London on 14th March 1836. 

Photo of Mrs Isabella Beeton – circa 1861

Sadly, whilst merely a nipper, Isabella’s father Benjamin died when he was just 39 years old.  Leaving a number of children, her mother, Elizabeth, eventually married a widower – Mr Henry Dorling - a bookseller and printer from Epsom, Surrey. Together with Henry’s four children, they increased their brood into an astounding gaggle of seventeen (or possibly twenty-one!) – “Cor blimey”, I hear you utter! Incredibly, this swollen ‘menage’ lived in rooms under the Epsom Downs grandstand – Well, I never!
 
Darlings, Isabella’s step-father, Henry, was quite a generous old chap who packed her off to finishing school in Heidelberg, Germany to study music and languages.  Presumably, there she dabbled in the basics of ‘home economics’, including the art of pastry making!

Thus, upon her return home to Epsom, Isabella toddled off to her local high street and received further lessons from the Barnard establishment - In fact, some folk believe she may actually have worked there for a scanty while! Owned by William Barnard, a confectioner, who in 1860 advertised his services as the ‘fancy bread and biscuit baker’ – Oh, I say!
 
 ‘Extra! Extra! Read All About it!’
 
On the 10th July 1856, Isabella married a rather dashing young chap – publisher and magazine editor – Mr Samuel Orchart Beeton. ​

Photo of Samuel Orchart Beeton – 1860

​Once settled into married life, Mrs Beeton started her career writing articles for her husband’s monthly publication - The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine - about housekeeping tips, cookery items and fashion - which he started in 1852, and by 1856 he was selling around 50,000 copies a year! And through her work, she became well-known as a journalist, editor, and writer – the positions of which, were quite an ‘anomaly’ during such times! 
 
At 21 years old, and just a ‘slip of a girl’, Mrs Beeton commenced work on her first culinary triumph, which was published in 1859 as 24 monthly instalments. Then in 1861 – the year my great great grandmother Georgina was born, the instalments evolved into a book. Furnished with the grand title of – Beeton’s Book of Household Management, which was published by S.O Beeton Publishing, 248 Strand, London, and sold 60,000 copies in its first year! 

Front cover - Beeton’s Book of Household Management - 1861

​By Jove, darlings! Thank goodness, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy - the 1906 edition – sporting the slightly altered title of  - Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management.
 
I must say, yet some-what eccentric in her ways, I find Mrs Beeton witty and informative, and in parts, emanates an extraordinary comedic flare. An intelligently written masterpiece, and in Miss Windsor’s opinion, long may she reign as QUEEN of the cookery writers’ industry!

Miss Windsor’s 1906 copy – Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management.

​Amazingly, double the size of the original, my 1906 version exceeds 2056 pages - What a stonker of a book, don't ya think! In fact, its best described as some kind of culinary reference book, encyclopedia or bible!

​Followed by a catalogue of adverts for British household favourites - Fry's Cocoa (Five Boys Milk Chocolate), Cadbury's Cocoa, McDougall's Flour, Jeyes' Disinfectants, Harrods, Sainsbury's, and Atora Beef Suet. Most of whom are still going strong today, and are, in fact, some of Miss Windsor’s pantry favourites! 

Advert for McDougall’s Self-Raising Flour – 1906.

​Moving swiftly on - in 1861 Mrs Beeton and darling Samuel founded The Queen, the Ladies Newspaper. A weekly publication, which offered easy to read amusements for its patrons. However, in 1862 they sold their literary creation to William Cox. But little did they know, it would transpire to be one of the longest-serving English magazines dedicated to women and fashion. Then in 1968 it was sold again and relaunched as Harpers & Queen, now known as Harpers Bazaar.   
                                                                                                                                          
Darlings, Beeton’s Book of Household Management was first published during a time when newly-wed middle-class women were often separated by miles from their mothers apron strings, so to speak! So, as the mistress of the house, and in need of direction, pressure quickly mounted in order to oversee that all household duties were carried out correctly - including their own! Therefore, droves of ladies called upon Mrs Beeton's counsel for help and advice - good call, darlings! 

Advert for Fry’s Chocolate – 1906. Originally located in Bristol, South-West England.

​Attention please: as Mrs Beeton proclaims to the mistress of the house, "She ought always to remember that she rules the household; and by her conduct, its whole internal policy is regulated. She is, therefore, a person of far-reaching importance!" – Miss Windsor, couldn’t agree more! 

Advert for - Hugons “Atora” Beef Suet - 1906.

​Luckily, Mrs Beeton's book covered everything, such as advice for the mistress and housewife - Hospitality, good temper, dress, fashion, wages of servants, parties and so on!
 
Darlings, Mrs Beeton wishes to add, "When a mistress is an early riser, it is almost certain that her house will be orderly and well managed. On the contrary, if she remains in bed till a late hour, then servants, who, as we observed, invariably acquire some of their mistress’s characteristics, are likely to become sluggards” – indeed, Mrs Beeton!

Advert for Stoves & Kitchen Ranges – London Warming & Ventilating Company Ltd - 1906.

In addition, she details the duties and responsibilities of the cook, kitchen maids and housekeeper, and warns all cooks, "If you are told to prepare anything you’re not certain about, have the courage to say so and ask your mistresses advice. How many dishes and dinners have been spoilt because cooks have been too proud to confess ignorance!" - cooks, take heed! 

Apparently, in 1906, ‘No home was complete without Harden Star Hand Grenades’ – Concur!

Followed by information on how to run a kitchen, utensils and appliances, wages of servants, menu making, the butler’s pantry, nursing and homeopathic medicine, the doctor, invalid furniture, and legal memoranda - to name, but a few! 

Advert for Household Necessaries – Gourmet & Co - 1906.

However, darlings, the real 'gem' of this book, is the extensive portfolio of recipes, together with colourful lithographic art illustrations, and photographic reproductions - which are included in the later versions - like Miss Windsor's! 

Lithographic art illustration – Dinner Table Old-Fashioned Style – Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management – 1906.

​In fact, during afternoon tea breaks, I often take comfort in Mrs Beeton’s book, and aimlessly flick through the brown tinged, frayed pages on some kind of educational quest.

​Although, a trifle amused, albeit a pinch shocked by some of the recipes one just so happens to cast an eye on! I am, indeed, delighted when I stumble across fascinating, yet peculiar cuisine from yesteryear such as Turtle Soup, Stewed Pigeons, Blackbird Pie, Brain Fritters, Peptonized Gruel, Parrot Pie, followed by a sweet treat of Porcupine Pudding - How appetising!  

Mouth-watering recipe for Brain Fritters - 1906.

Well, I must say, the recipe on page 165 for ‘Good Woman’s Soup’ (potage a la bonne femme – Ooh, la, la!) certainly makes me chuckle – Darlings, could it be possible to create a ‘good woman’ just from a white-heart lettuce and a thick slice of cucumber? Answers on a postcard, please!  

Fancy a slurp or two of Good Woman’s Soup? - 1906.

Also, buried deep within my 1906 version, you’ll find recipe categories for: ‘General Observations on The Common Hog’, ‘Recipes for Cooking Hare & Rabbit’, ‘Invalid Cookery’, ‘Jewish Cookery’, ‘Indian Cookery’ - the list goes on! Oh, and not forgetting recipes for the ‘Use of Butler, Footman, Coachman, Groom, Valet, Lady’s Maid, Man-Servant or Parlour-Maid, House-Maid and Laundry-Maid’. 

Recipe for Hasty Pudding - 1906. Even the Victorian’s could rustle up a sweet treat in 20 minutes!

Recipe for Japan Blacking for Boots & Shoes – 1906. An interesting concoction using treacle and lamp oil!

​Darlings, many say that Mrs Beeton was quite ahead of her time in the sphere of recipe writing; observed as a stickler for thriftiness and one for ‘tightening the purse strings’, as it goes! And where possible, she suggests an alternative, satisfying recipe, instead of those that require pricey ingredients.

​Of course, although the economical version endeavours to save money and often time, Mrs Beeton hereby enunciates, “Economy and frugality must never, however, be allowed to degenerate into meanness” – Oh, yes mistress!  
 
Although contemporary in style Mrs Beeton wrote easy to follow detailed instructions, which include a list of ingredients at the start of the recipe, cooking times, cost of recipe, along with old-fashioned 'imperial' measurements, such as: ounce, pound, stone, drachm, quarter, hundredwt, ton, fluid drachm, pint, gallon, peck, bushel, sack, chaldron, load - Oh, and the trusty old 'tea cup'! My word, the mind certainly boggles! 

Table of Quantities & Measures – 1906.

​Darlings, Mrs Beeton recommends, “The young housekeeper, cook, or whoever may be engaged in the important task of ‘getting ready’ the dinner or other meal, to follow precisely the order in which the recipes are given. Thus, let them first place on their table all the ingredients necessary; then their method of preparation will quickly and easily be managed” – thank you, Mrs Beeton!
 
But rumour has it, she nobbled a fair few recipes from other famous cooks, such as Eliza Acton, who in 1845 published Modern Cookery for Private Families – slapped wrist, Mrs Beeton! She also included recipes that were created by her readers, which were first showcased in her monthly column. Apparently, her half-sister - Lucy Smiles - recalled that Baroness de Tessier of Epsom gave her a recipe for Baroness Pudding – made of suet and raisins!  

Recipe for Baroness Pudding – 1906.

Darlings, but as I delved deeper into Mrs Beeton's life, I stumbled across Kathryn Hughes (historian & author) who's been exposed as a touch obsessed with Mrs Beeton, and apparently remortgaged her home to be the proud owner of an assemblage of Mrs Beeton's letters - Well, I never! Also, Miss Hughes spent a number of years researching Mrs Beeton's culinary wrongdoings, and, in fact, proved that many of her recipes had been copied word for word from other food writers of her day - and beyond!   

Hmmm just thinking out loud here! - to be brutally honest darlings, and in today’s world, if such whispers proved correct I’m sure Mrs Beeton would be known as a damn right plagiarist! However, suffice to say, without her unfettered efforts, I believe many households would’ve erupted into an almighty mass of chaos! Therefore, one must express gratitude for the laborious works of our beloved Mrs Beeton.

Lithographic art illustration of A Supper Buffet For Ball Room Or Evening Party – 1906.

Now, according to my research, Mrs Beeton along with her cook and kitchen-maid would test one recipe per day in her kitchen in Hatch End, Pinner, London. I dare say, but what a load of old cobblers! I doubt she had time to participate in any extra culinary activities - as she was a wife, mother, mistress of the house, and a career woman - Righty oh, RANT OVER!

Recipe for Bread Pudding, Boiled – ingredients measured in pounds and ounces – 1906.

Then apparently, if a success, and deemed worthy of her book, she would rewrite the recipe in accordance with her new recipe format - Well I say, in this case, Kathryn Hughes has certainly proved otherwise! As evidently Mrs Beeton's ONLY additions were, in fact, a list of ingredients at the start of the recipe, plus cooking times - and as for the rest of the content she had brazenly copied from others - naughty, naughty!

Recipe for Christmas Cake – ingredients measured in teacups – 1906.

A noticeable example of 'copying' - is that the type of measurements used seam to differ from one recipe to another - where one says pounds and ounces, another states teacups! So, darlings, due to the recipe content which clearly lacks uniformity: one wonders how many recipes Mrs Beeton actually did rewrite? But nevertheless, Kathryn Hughes proudly declared to The Guardian newspaper, "Mrs Beeton was an extraordinary innovator" - of course, Miss Windsor couldn't agree more! 

Lithographic art illustration for Sweets – 1906.

​Darlings, would you ‘Adam and Eve it’! nestled amongst hundreds of recipes in my 1906 version of Mrs Beeton’s masterpiece, is apparently, her ONE and ONLY recipe to be of her very own creation – Benevolent Soup! Originally known as - Useful Soup for Benevolent Purposes’ – Hurray, Mrs Beeton! 

Mrs Beeton’s recipe for Benevolent Soup – 1906.

You see, the history books dictate that in 1858 England endured a terribly harsh and deathly cold winter. So much so, our charitable, selfless, and kindly Mrs Beeton set up a soup kitchen from her home and served a hearty, meat-based, chunky vegetable, and liquor-laced concoction – namely half a pint of beer! (although, my 1906 version calls for water ONLY!) to the hungry, homeless, or destitute folk of Hatch End, Pinner – Mrs Beeton a pillar of her community!
 
Now darlings, what I’m about to announce brings a trickle of a tear to my eye - at the tender age of 28 years old, Mrs Beeton passed away on the 6th February 1865 and was buried at Norwood Cemetery, London. Tragically, following the birth of her fourth child, she died from peritonitis and puerperal fever. But according to various sources, darling Samuel had possibly infected her with syphilis, which one presumes caused the death of two of their sons. 
​

The grave of Samuel Orchart Beeton and Mrs Isabella Beeton. I was shocked to learn that Isabella had only been described as, ‘His Wife and Fellow Worker’, and Samuel had taken all the glory as, ‘Author, Editor, Publisher’. Very sad, indeed.

​There, There, ‘don’t bleat my little lambs’! Following Mrs Beeton’s early departure, Samuel made her name into a global brand – What a wonderful way to commemorate her work! And according to one of Miss Windsor’s mentors: the jolly old internet – Mrs Beeton bequeathed to her fellow arena of all things domestic and culinary, her final offering, which she completed a few weeks before her death – Mrs Beeton’s Dictionary of Every-Day Cookery. Published in 1865 – by S.O Beeton, 248 Strand, London. 

Image by: ebth.com - Front cover of Mrs Beeton’s Dictionary of Every-Day Cookery – 1865. 

However, in 1866, Mr Samuel Orchart Beeton was swamped in debt - one wonders if this was due to the expense of two court cases he was embroiled in? Therefore, to avoid bankruptcy he sold the rights to his business, along with Mrs Beeton’s book (or books?) to Ward Lock & Co. Limited. Fortunately, they allowed him to continue running the business, and using Mrs Beeton’s well-established name, published updated versions of Beeton’s Book of Household Management - again & again!
 
Sadly, the poor old chap died on the 6th June 1877 of pulmonary consumption and was laid to rest next to his sweetheart in Norwood Cemetery. 

Lithographic art illustration - Dinner & Dessert China – 1861 – Beeton’s Book of Household Management.

​Unfortunately, many years later the Beeton’s home in Pinner was bombed during the ‘Blitz’ of 1940. However, as a touching mark of remembrance, I discovered that a road in Hatch End (Pinner) had been lovingly furnished with the grand title of – Beeton Close – isn’t that lovely!
                                                                
Darlings, before Miss Windsor retires to the comfort of her boudoir, she hereby affirms that Mrs Beeton, a truly inspiring lady, who for nearly 160 years merely with written words and illustrations, provided help and guidance in the realm of household management – to the aspiring mistress, housekeeper, or cook.

​Therefore, and beyond a shadow of a doubt, Mrs Beeton’s legacy will trickle down into today’s modern-day society and her valuable teachings will be cherished and practised by generations to come. 

Lithographic art illustration – Fruit – 1906.

​Therefore, as part of my work in 'Bringing food history alive', it is my wish to live on in Mrs Beeton’s name; to revive and re-create recipes from my 1906 edition of Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management – with a Miss Windsor twist, of course! Which will serve as the perfect opportunity to pay homage, and to celebrate the mastery of our illustrious, English culinary marvel – Mrs Isabella Beeton.  

Darlings, hush please, whilst Mrs Beeton says a few words:
 
“I must frankly own that, if I had known beforehand the labour which this book has entailed, I should never have been courageous enough to commence it. What moved me, in the first instance, to attempt a work like this, was the discomfort and suffering which I had seen brought about by household mis-management” – Miss Windsor, couldn’t agree more!
 
ISABELLA BEETON
248, Strand. 1861 

Darlings - if you fancy stepping back in time and re-creating one of Mrs Beeton's mouth-watering cakes, then please CLICK THE LINK BELOW for Miss Windsor's Seriously Scrumptious Lemon & Coconut Cake:

miss-windsors-seriously-scrumptious-lemon-coconut-cake.html
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ALL RECIPES, ILLUSTRATIONS & ADVERTS TAKEN FROM: 1861 EDITION OF BEETON’S BOOK OF HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT & My 1906 EDITION OF MRS BEETON’S BOOK OF HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT.